Bus hire with a driver means you book the vehicle and a licensed driver together, and the driver handles the whole run: pickups, parking, waiting and the trip home. Every Busify quote includes the driver. In Melbourne a minibus starts at about $100 an hour, including GST. A full day runs from around $600 to $2,400, depending on the size and age of the bus. Other cities are quoted at local rates. You tell us the date, the pickups and the group size, and we compare local depots in that city and quote you a price.

What a driver-included hire covers

The driver is part of the price, not an extra. They collect the group at the agreed address, follow the route agreed at booking, wait between legs if the quote allows for it, and bring everyone back. You do not need a heavy vehicle licence, you do not refuel the bus, and nobody in the group has to stay sober to drive home.

Changes on the day are possible, but anything that adds time or distance is charged to the booking. If the group leaves more than 10 minutes late, overtime can apply at $45 including GST per 15 minutes, as set out in the booking terms. Give one person the authority to agree changes with the driver, and make sure that person answers their phone.

Which size of bus for your group

Busify books vehicles from 12 seats to 57 seats. As a rough guide:

• A minibus seats 12 to 24 passengers.
• A medium coach suits 25 to 40.
• A large coach carries 41 to 57. A bigger group needs two vehicles.

Count luggage as well as people. The vehicle is matched to the passengers and luggage you give at booking, so say how many bags are coming. On longer trips with full suitcases, a slightly larger vehicle can be the better choice.

What it costs

Short trips are quoted by the hour and full days by the day. Busify’s Melbourne pricing guide gives indicative hourly rates, including GST. A minibus is $100 to $250 an hour, a medium coach $150 to $300 and a large coach $200 to $400. A full day runs from about $600 for a minibus to $2,400 or more for a large, newer coach. Longer day trips and interstate runs can be quoted on a daily or per-kilometre basis, and a minimum hire period may apply.

A Busify quote typically covers the driver, the vehicle, fuel and GST. Tolls, extra waiting time, the driver’s overnight stays and travel outside the metro area can add to it, and these are set out before you confirm. A bus left soiled is billed $250 plus GST for cleaning.

The other thing you control is the vehicle class. Premium coaches are 8 to 18 years old and Luxury coaches are under 7. Economy covers older coaches and buses, plus school or city buses of any age. See the vehicle classes page for what each includes. For a straight transfer, Economy does the job. For a wedding or a client day, the newer coach is usually worth the difference.

Long days and the driver’s hours

Drivers’ hours and rest periods are set by law, so the length of the day shapes the quote. A long day with an early start and a late finish may need rest breaks built into the timetable, or a second driver. If the group runs late and pushes the driver towards those limits, the extra cost falls on the booking. On multi-day trips you also pay for the driver’s accommodation in advance: a single room, with dinner and breakfast. Give us the full timetable, including your expected finish time, so the quote covers it.

Cities we cover

Busify books buses with drivers from local depots, so the driver knows the local roads. See the city pages for local detail:

• Melbourne bus hire
• Sydney bus hire
• Brisbane bus hire
• Perth bus hire
• Adelaide bus hire
• Canberra bus hire

Busify also covers the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Newcastle and the Central Coast. See all locations.

Common reasons groups hire a bus and driver

Weddings are a big one, where guests need moving between the ceremony, the reception and their accommodation; the wedding bus hire page covers how those runs work. Corporate days and conferences often need a morning pickup and an evening return; see corporate bus hire. Schools book excursions, camps and sports transfers through school bus hire. Private groups book winery days, birthdays and sports trips.

How to book

Ask for a quote with the date, every pickup address, the destination, the times you need to arrive and leave, and the number of passengers. Say whether the bus should wait or come back later. The quote you get is for that exact day, driver included, and you can change the plan before you confirm. A quote stays valid for 7 days when the trip is more than three weeks away, and for less as the date gets closer. Cancelling inside 7 days costs 30% of the booking, inside 96 hours 50%, and inside 48 hours the full amount. The full conditions are in the booking terms.

Questions people ask

Is the driver included in the price?

Yes. Every Busify quote includes a professional, licensed driver. You never need to arrange one separately.

Can the driver wait while we are at the venue?

Yes, if the quote includes waiting time. For events under about six hours, keeping the bus on site is often better value than two separate trips. For a longer gap, ask for both and compare.

Can I hire a bus without a driver?

Not through Busify. Every booking comes with a driver.

How far ahead should I book?

As soon as the date is fixed. Two to four weeks ahead suits most trips. For weddings, end-of-year events and big sporting weekends, allow two to three months.